Memory System Selective Refresh via LBA Registers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory system refresh operations often fail to selectively refresh logical block addresses (LBAs) at the desired level, leading to inefficiencies and potential impact on endurance and time due to refreshing entire memory arrays or blocks, which can be critical for application functionality.
Innovation Solution
Implementing registers in memory devices to store logical block address (LBA) information, allowing for selective refresh operations at the LBA level, reducing software overhead and ensuring critical LBAs are refreshed without affecting the entire memory array.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If entire memory arrays or blocks are refreshed, then all memory data is maintained, but refresh time and software overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory refresh operation into two distinct segments: (1) critical LBAs that require immediate refresh to maintain application functionality, and (2) non-critical LBAs that can be refreshed later or skipped. This segmentation allows the system to refresh only the necessary portion of memory, reducing refresh time while maintaining reliability for critical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different refresh priorities to different regions of memory based on their criticality. Critical LBAs are identified and marked with a priority indicator, allowing the refresh operation to apply higher quality attention (immediate refresh) to specific local regions while using lower quality attention (deferred or skipped refresh) for non-critical regions.
2Reliability
If entire memory arrays or blocks are refreshed, then all memory data is maintained, but software overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the software refresh logic into two parts: (1) identification and marking of critical LBAs using priority indicators stored in memory metadata, and (2) selective refresh execution based on these indicators. This segmentation reduces software overhead by avoiding the need to manage and track every single LBA individually, as the priority indicators provide a simplified mechanism for identifying critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory system performs self-service by automatically identifying critical LBAs through priority indicators stored in the memory structure itself. The refresh manager can autonomously determine which LBAs require refresh without requiring complex software intervention or host system involvement, thereby reducing software overhead.
3Productivity
If selective refresh at LBA level is implemented, then refresh efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LBA space into critical and non-critical regions using priority indicators. This segmentation enables the refresh manager to efficiently select only critical LBAs for refresh, improving productivity without requiring complex per-LBA tracking logic. The segmentation is implemented through simple metadata indicators rather than complex data structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of LBA selection from a binary state (refresh or not) to a prioritized state using priority indicators. This parameter change allows the system to efficiently identify critical LBAs through simple indicator checking rather than complex analysis, improving refresh efficiency while adding minimal complexity through the use of standardized priority metadata.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can be performed using a memory device. The method can include receiving a refresh command for first data or second data in the memory device. The method can include accessing a first of at least two registers in the memory device. The first register can be configured to store a first logical block address (LBA) at which the first data is stored in the memory device. A second of the at least two registers can be configured to store a range of LBAs at which at least the second data is stored in the memory device. The method can include performing a refresh operation to refresh one or both of the first data and the second data based on at least one of the first LBA and the range of LBAs.